Coin controlled vending machine



I Nov. 27, 1934- F. H. VOGEL ET AL COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Nov. 27, 1934. I F. H. VOGEL ET AL V 1,981,931

COIN CONTROLLEDYENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 d9.mmvrons Fran k b Vbgel PaZp/z A Vogel Patented Nov. 27, 1934 pNrreoSTATES;

. I 1,981,931 COINCONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Frank H. Vogel and Ralph A.Vogel, Columbus,

Ohio, assignors to The Columbus Vending Company, Columbus, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application November 8, 1930, Serial No. 494,212

' 7 'Claims.

This invention relates to a coin controlled vending machine. It has todo, more particularly,

with a novel form of detent device for controlling the rotative movementof the vender disk with the actuating device. Furthermore, this inven.tion relates to a novel form of closure member for the commodityand'coin receiving compart-. ments respectively and to a novel means foragitating the articles contained in the hopper. 10 In the past, thevender disk of a coin cone trolled vending machine has been maintainedin alignment with the vender lever by means of a spring actuated pawladapted to engage with successive notches in the vender disk. In someinstances, the application of undue force on the operating handle hasresulted in driving the vender disk, by impetus, past the point whereits notch registers. with the coin slot of the vender lever, and alsomoving the vender disk to such position as to preclude cooperation ofthe pawl with one of the notches therein. As a result, subsequentoperation of the vending machine is pre-' vented in view of the factthat the disaligning slots in the vender disk and the vender lever willnot permit proper positioning of a coin until the machine has beenre-adjusted which necessitates disassembling thereof.

One object of this invention is to provide a means for ensuring theproper alignment between the selector plate and the vender lever toallow the slot of the vender lever to register with one of the notchesin the selector plate after each operation to thereby ensure positiveand reliable op-' eration of the machine. 7

Another object of this invention lies in the pro-. vision of a novelform of cap for the commodity compartment that will closely embrace theupper end of the cylindrical hopper to preclude the entry of dirt, dust,and moisture thereinto from this source, and aclosure for the coinreceivingcompartment that will successfully preclude the insertion ofwire or similar articles into the coin compartment in an attempt toremove coins or checks therefrom. s i

Another object of this invention liesin the provision of a cap memberfor the hopper and a closure plate for the coin receiving compartmentthat are each respectively equipped with an interiorly located lockingmeans operable from the exterior of the machine, thus providing alocking means that is inaccessible to persons who might be inclined totamper therewith if such lock were to be located exteriorly of thedevice as in several of the prior art models.

Still another objector this invention is to providea closure forthecommodity and coin receivmg compartments respectively that may bereadily removed from the machine to fully uncover each respectivecompartment or, may be mounted thereon and rotated to suchposition as tocause the cooperation of a plurality of means for precluding the removalthereof by a direct pull perpendicular to the plane of the base, andthen operating a locking means to preclude turning of such closures to apoint where such interlocking means is ineffective.

A further object of this invention is to provide a vending machinewherein the operating mechanism is protected against persons who mightbe inclined to insert wire, pins or even the fingers of the hand intothe commodity chute in an attempt tofraudulently obtain the articles inthe hopper.

A still further object of this invention lies in the provision of anagitating means that will positively agitate and rearrange thearticles'inthe hopper with each operation of the machine and Willserve'to correctly feed the articlesfrom the containing hopper to thedelivery mechanism as the articles are withdrawn therefrom by theoperation of the-machine. 1 v e This invention contemplates theprovisionof a pawl member having a heel thereon that is positivelycontacted by the vender lever at the end of every stroke to drive oneend of the pawl into engagement with a notch in the vender disk topreclude movement of thevender disk by impetus past the point where thecoin slot therein registers with the coin slot of the vender lever. Thiswill ensure the proper alignment, at all times, of the vender disk withthe vender lever and will allow the positive and reliable operation ofthe machine.

Furthermore, this invention contemplates the provision of a cap for thecommodity compartment that is adapted to be held thereon by thecooperation of spaced lugs coacting with a. pey ripheral annular grooveformed in that part of the cap member thatembraces the upper end of thecylindrical hopper. The peripheral groove is provided with a pluralityof spaced grooves perpendicular thereto toallow the cap to be positionedon the upper end'of the cylinder and to permit downward movement of thecap until the lugs engage with the peripheral annular groove. Rotationof the cap in any direction will remove the lugs from registry with theperpendicular openingsand will preclude removal of the top by a directpull perpendicular to the plane of the base. A locking means is providedto prevent turning of the cap from this position to a point where no thelugs may register with the perpendicular grooves. A detailed descriptionof this locking device will be hereinafter set out in the specification.The principal idea of such an arrangement is to provide means forpreventing removal of the cap, unless the cap is turned to a point forallowing such removal and when the cap is in the first named position,to prevent rotation thereof by a locking means.

Much the same principle is followed in providing a closure member forthe coin compartment. In place of an annular peripheral groove and aplurality of lugs, the closure member for the base is provided with aplurality of bayonet slots formed in that portion of the closure memberthat interfits with the cylindrical housing. These bayonet slots areadapted to cooperate on rotation, with a plurality of arms mounted inthe coin compartment and when such cooperation is approximated furthermovement of the closure member is prevented by closing the bolt of alocking means. This base closure is designed to operate as a receptaclefor coins and is of sufficient depth to allow the removal thereofwithoutspilling the coins therefrom.

The selector plate of this vending device is provided with a centrallydisposed upstanding-agitator having a plurality of diverging verticalflutes or wings adapted to effectively agitate the articles within thehopper to ensure the continuous proper feeding thereof to the selectingand vending mechanism. Furthermore, means are provided for insuring thatthe commodity hopper will not be emptied by holding the operatingmechanism at a position of discharge.

This vending machine is also provided with a novel means for closing thecommodity chute when the drop gate is lifted. Jhis means is formed as anextension of the drop gate and normally lies in the commodity chutealthough not in such position as to interfere with the passage ofarticles therethrough. However, when the gate is lifted, the extensiondrops into such position as to obstruct the passage and prevent to theinternal mechanism of the machine.

Other objects and advantageous feeti res of this invention will beapparent in the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings wherein similar figures of reference designate like charactersand wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our novel form of vending machine withcertain parts thereof broken away to more clearly illustrate the variousfeatures thereof.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the operating mechanism showingthe vender c isk and the preferred form of our pawl in the positionwhich they occupy immediately preceding actuation of the vender lever.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 showing the vender leverafter it has been moved to such position as to bring one end thereofinto contact with one end of the pawl member to positively drive theopposing endthereof into a notch in the vender disk.

Figure 4 is a detail in vertical section through the coin receivingcompartment and the operating mechanism of our vending machine.

Figure 5 is a view showing a modified arrangement of the locking meansfor the base closure plate, wherein the lock is mounted on the wall ofthe base section rather than on the closure member.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the under side of the bowl castingremoved from the machine.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the vender lever plate removed fromthe machine.

The individual parts of our novel vending machine will now be discussedwith reference to their construction and respective functions, theclosure member for the base being considered first.

With reference to the drawings, we have shown in Figure 1 a vendingmachine that is substantially cylindrical throughout its length. Thebase section of this machine preferably comprises a cylindrical wall 1preferably made up of a light metal which serves as a wall for the coinreceiving compartment 2 adapted to receive and contain the coins orother devices after they have passed through the operating mechanism.This cylindrical wall 1 also serves as a support for the operatingmechanism and the hopper mounted thereabove.

The lower end of this cylindrical wall is equipped with an outwardlyflaring apron 3, that is adapted to encircle the base and to be rigidlymounted thereon. The lowermost end of such apron extends below thelowermost limits of the annular wall and is turned under as at 4 toembrace and hold in position an annular member 5.

This annular member 5 comprises a rib-like portion 6 that is disposedintermediate the innor side of the flange 3 and the lower end of thebase portion 1. Formed integrally with the horizontal portion of therib-like member is an upstanding flange '7 adapted to normally liewithin the coin receiving compartment and in intimate contact with theinner side of the cylindrical wall 1. The horizontal flange of therib-like member may be equipped with a plurality of cushioned supports 8to prevent the machine from scratching or otherwise marring any surfaceupon which it rests.

The upstanding wall 7 is provided with a plurality of radial arms 9,Figures 1 and i, having one end thereof formed integrally therewith. Theinner ends of the arms 9 are joined to an annular center portion 10,Figures 1 and 4, that is drilled centrally as at 11, Figure 4, for thereception of the threaded lower end 12 of the center post 13. Each arm 9is provided with a reenforcing rib throughout its length and isreenforced by one of the legs 15 of a reenforoing spider 15' that isbored centrally to allow the central post 13 to extend therethrough.Each leg 15 which is preferably made up of a strip of metal is fixedlysecured to one of the horizontal arms 9 and extends substantially thelength thereof, but terminating short of the points of juncture of sucharms 9 with the wall 7. The reenforcing plate is also adapted to supporta sleeve 12 mounted in concentric relation to the post 13 and supportingone end of a spout 50, as shown in Figure 6, hereinafter referred to, onits upper end. The central post 13 is secured to the under side of theannular center portion 10 by a nut 10'.

The base closure plate 16 preferably comprises a horizontal base sectionhaving an upstanding annular flange member 17 formed integrally with theperipheral edge thereof. This upstanding annular flange is provided witha plurality of spaced perpendicular cut away portions 18 each of whichcommunicates with a slot 19 extending at right angles to the basethereof. These communicating grooves form a bayonet slot. When theclosure plate is mounted on the base, the cut away portions 18 arebrought into registry with the horizontal arms 9 and the base plate ismoved upwardly until the arms contact with the botin Figure 1, it isdesirable that some means be provided for precluding the turning of suchplate. In order to accomplish this, we utilize a lock 23 that may bemounted either on the interior of the closure plate adjacent theperiphery thereof, Figures 1 and 4, or may be positioned on the innerside of the wall 1, Figure 5. When the lock is positioned on the closuremember, an

opening 24, Figure 4, is provided in the wall of the flange 17 to allowthe bolt 25 to pass therethrough and into engagement with the walls ofan opening 26 formed at some point in the upstanding wall "I. This lockis adapted to 'be operated by a key inserted in the key slot 27 thatextends below the base of the closure'plate Figure 4 in such position asto be readily accessible, by merely tipping the machine to one side.

However, where the user desires to secure the machine to a pedestal orcounter, the other mounting of the lock is to be preferred, since thekey slot is now accessible from the wml 1. This permits the owner of thedevice to firmly secure the base closure plate to a table or counter bydriving screws through such plate in a manner that will be clearlyapparent. To obtain separation of the machine from the closure plate,the machine may be grasped and rotated until the endsof the arms 9register with the vertical notches 18 and then lifted. By reversing theprocedure, the machine and base may again be joined. The bolt of the"lock may then be operated to engage with any one of the vertical fins146 that are formed integral with the flange l7 and are located adjacentthe notches 19. These fins prevent rotation of the closure plate withrespect to the base and the two cannot be separated until the bolthas'been withdrawn and the machine rotated as hereinbefore set out.

It can readily be seen that the closure plate is supported at aplurality of points and the flange member 17 thereof will tightly coactwiththe flange member '7 of the rib-like member 5 to prevent personsfrom inserting small objects between the closure plate and the base ofthe machine to remove coins or other devices from the coin containingcompartment. Furthermore, provision of a closure plate having anupstanding peripheral flange converts this plate into a receptacle ofsufficient depth to allow the removal of such plate without spilling thecoins or checks therefrom.

Mounted on the upper end of the cylindrical casing 1 is an annular bowlcasing member 30 adapted to enclose and support the operating mechanismof this vending machine. Cast integral with this bowl casing is a member141, by

means of which the device may be attached to a wall or similarsupporting surface. This bowl casing member is also cast with a radiallyprojecting hood 31, Figures 1, 4 and 6, designed to enclose a dependingportion 142 of a top plate 36 in which the major portion of the coinchannel 32 is contained. The entrance to this coin channel is guarded bya plate 33 having a suitableslot 34 therein that overlies and cooperateswith such coin channel; I

The plate 33, is mounted on an extension 35 formedas a part of a topplate 36, mounted on the upper edge of the casting 30. This member 36 isequipped with an annular groove 37 in the upper portion thereof adaptedto receive the lower end of a cylindrical hopper 38 of transparentmaterial. A gasket 39 of some suitable material is preferably disposedin the groove prior to mounting of the cylindrical hopper therein. Thistop plate is further provided with an annular beveled flange 40, Figure1, adjoining the'groove 37 that is adapted to lie Within. the commoditycompartment, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described inconnection with the agitating means.

Located below and to one side of the coin channel is a spout extendingthrough a suitable opening'in the wall 1 that is normally closed by ahinged drop-gate 51. This drop-gate is novel in that itis provided withan integral extension 143 that extends rearwardly from the pivots 144and normally lies in a horizontal plane adjacent the upper limits of thespout when the drop-gate is in closed position. However, on raising ofthe dropgate, the extension descends and blocks the entry to the spoutin such a manner that sucharticles as wire, pins or even the fingerscannot be inserted beyond it. The drop-gate and extension are soconstructed that persons cannot change the angular relation therebetweenby holding the gate open and pushing against the extension. This isaccomplished by either stamping the drop-gate and extension out of aheavy metal and crimping the marginal edge, or casting them from astrong metal that cannot be bent with ordinary pressure.

The inner end of this spout is located at the center of the machine andin a position to receive the vended material fromthe vender lever platethrough a suitable aperture hereinafter referred to, in the base of thebowl casing, such inner end being apertured and mounted on the post 13and held in position by the upper end of the sleeve 12 which maintainsit against the under side of the bowl casting 30. As will be noted thespout has its base inclined downwardly and outwardly to allow thecommodity to move toward the dropgate.

Mounted within the bowl casting 30 is a vender lever plate 41'best shownin Figures 1, 6 and 7. This plate preferably'comprises a horizontal mainbody portion 42having an opening 52, Figures'4 and '7 therein. Thisopening is adapted to register with one of a plurality of openings 81 inthe selector plate to receive the commodity to be vended from the hopperand to subsequently, on properactuation, to deliver such material to theinner end of the spout 50 through an opening 50' in the base of the bowlcasting.

This vender lever plate 41 also comprises a handle 53 which projectsthrough and operates in an opening 54, Figure 6, in the bowl casing 30.The under side'of this vender lever plate, Figure 6, is equipped with adepending tongue 55 disposed in a slot or opening 56 formed in the bowlcasing30. A retractile spring 5'7 is connected, at one end, to thistongue 55 and is connected at its other end to a second tongue 59depending from the under side of the bowl casting 30. It can readily beseen, that the retractile spring tends to always return the vender leverplate to its initial position and to return it to such position after ithas been operated to eifect discharge of the vended material.

The vender lever plate 41 is further, provided i formed in the bowlcasting 30.

with a substantially radial slot 60 which extends through the segmentalflange 61 and into the horizontal portion of such plate. When the venderlever plate is in initial position, Figure 2, this slot 60 is inalignment with the inner end of the coin channel 32 formed in thedepending lobe 142 cast as a part of the top plate and located inradially projecting hood 31.

The alignment of the inner end of the channel 32 with the slot 60 ispositively insured after each and every operation of the vender leverplate by reason of the fact that the lever is provided with a stop 145that is adapted to contact with the lobe 142 containing the coin channel32, the lobe extending into the path thereof, as shown in Figure 2. Thecontacting surfaces of both the stop member and the lobe may be milledto in sure that the vender lever plate on returning to initial positionwill stop at the exact point where the channel 32 and slot 60 align.

The coin is adapted to be delivered, when it is received in the channel32, into the slot 69 where it is held upright by the walls of such slotand by an arcuate semi-circular channel 140 This channel extends from apoint adjacent the entry to an opening 1 1 in the bowl casting throughwhich the coins drop into the coin receptacle.

The vender lever plate ll is provided with a 1' central hub 64 that isdrilled centrally as at 65 for proper mounting on the annular upstandingportion 66, Figure i, formed integrally with and centrally disposed withrelation to the bowl casing 30. A bushing may be inserted in the hub 64to reduce the wear resulting from rotation of the plate 41. The annularportion 66 is drilled centrally as at 67 to allow the vertical post 13to extend therethrough. To prevent rotation of such post, it is providedwith a pin '70 that extends beyond the periphery thereof and is normallyadapted to engage the lugs 71 formed as a part of the upper portion ofthe portion 66, being disposed in a cut away portion '72 in the upperportion thereof and lying in concentric relation to the center post 13.

Mounted on the center post 13 directly above the vender lever plate isselector plate 80, Figures 2 and 3. that is supported out of engagementtherewith by its integral depending hub adapted to rest on the upper endof the annular portion 66 formed as a part of the bowl casting 30. Thisselector plate preferably comprises a horizontal body portion providedwith a plurality of circular openings 81 arranged in a circle about thepost 13 and spaced equally distant therefrom and from each other. Thesecircular openings are adapted to receive the articles to be vended andcarry them to proper position for vending. The periphery of the selectorplate is provided with a plurality of spaced substantially U -shapednotches 82 that, as will be hereinafter noted, are each adapted tosuccessively align with the coin slot 60 in the vender lever plate. Inaddition, the periphery of this selector plate is equipped with aplurality of ratchet teeth 83. These ratchet teeth lie intermediate twoof the notches 82 over which a pawl member 85 is adapted to ride, thecooperation of such pawl with the teeth serving to prevent reversemove-- ment of the selector plate.

The pawl member 85 is pivoted on an upstand ing pin 86 mounted on thebase plate of the bowl casting to the left of the coin slot and adjacentthe periphery thereof. The forward end of this pawl, as at 87, is turnedinwardly so as to engage with the teeth and notches of the selectorplate, and is adapted to be influenced toward contact with the peripheryof the selector plate and these teeth and notches by a resilient member88 mounted on the pin 86.

This pawl structure serves to prevent any reverse movement of theselector plate and is also adapted to successively align the notches 82with the slot 60 in the vender lever plate and with the coin channel 32.In some instances, an operator will throw the handle 53 from theposition shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3 with undueforce. If the selector plate is given undue impetus it might rotate to apoint where the forward end 87 of the pawl will engage with one of theteeth 83 instead of correctly positioning itself in one of the notches82. In order to prevent this from happening, one end of the pawl memberhas been. provided with an extension 90 having a heel 91 formed on therearmost end thereof that is adapted to be contacted with the forwardend 92 of the segmental upstanding portion 61 formed as a part of thevendor lever plate, see Figures 1 and 3. The cooperation of portion 61with the heel 91 of the pawl member, Figure is adapted to positivelydrive the forward end 87 of the pawl thereof into co operation with oneof the notches 82.

Perhaps the operation of this pawl member will be best understood'inconnection with a brief description of the operation of the mechanism.When a suitable coin is inserted in the slot 34 it will roll down thechannel 32 and into the slot 60, being supported from below by thearcuate wall of the channel in which position it will also be disposedin one of the notches 82 in the selector plate as best shown in Figure2. This suitable coin will thereby lock the selector plate and vendorlever plate together so that when the vender lever plate is moved by thehandle 53 the selector plate will also be moved a corresponding distanceuntil such time as the coin traverses the channel and drops through asuit able opening in the bowl casting 3O and-into the coin receivingcompartment.

During movement of the selector plate the forward end 87 of the pawl 85drags over the notched periphery of such plate to prevent any reversalin the movement thereof. When the plate reaches the position shown inFigure 3, the forward end 92, Figure 1, of the vender lever plate 41will contact with the heel 91 of the pawl member to drive the forwardend thereof into positive engagement with one of the notches 82 thusensuring that one of the other of such 1 structure will positivelypreclude rotation of the selector plate in either direction after suchengagement. When the lever 53 is released, the vendor lever plate willrotate in a reverse direction under the influence of the resilientmember 57 until the stop 145 strikes the wall 142 extending into thepath thereof, Figure 2. However, rotation of the selector plate inareverse direction is prevented by the pawl 85 and the coin slot 60 inthe vendor lever plate will again align with another of the notches 82.

It is obvious, that movement of the selector plate will serve to conveyone of the spherical articles seated in one of the openings 81 of theselector plate beneath the lobe 62 where it will be discharged throughthe opening 50 in the i bowl casting 30 and from there. into the spout50 down which it rolls to the drop-gate 51 from which it can readily beremoved. The lobe 62 is so located that it overlies the discharge.opening in the lever plate and will prevent other of thearticles locatedin the hopper from entering the opening 50'. This ensures that only onearticle at a time willbe vended.

Formed integrally with the selector plate and extending upwardly fromthe center thereofis an agitator 100 that is bored centrally to allowthe center post 13 to extend therethrough. This novel form of agitatoris'provided with a plurality of vertical fins 101 arrangedconcentrically around the center post 13. The agitator isfrustro-conical in form. Therefore, the fins 101 are deeper at theirbases than at their tops. It will be apparent that any movement of theselector plate will also serve to rotate this agitator. With referenceto Figure 4, it will be noted that the spherical commodities are groupedaround and rest against the fins of this agitating member and also reston the beveled portion 40 of the top plate. With each operation of themachine, the agitator is revolved, thus serving to rearrange thearticles grouped therearound to' prevent any failure in the operation ofthe machine due to the articles compacting, arching, adhering, orassuming a stable arrangement in the hopper. The beveled portion 40 ofthe top plate will tend to direct the spherical articles againstthediverging fins 101 that are so angled as to direct the articles intoany one of the openings 81, with the exception of the opening lyingdirectly below the lobe 50.

As hereinbefore mentioned the top plate is adapted to support acylindrical hopper 38 preferably made up of a transparent material suchas glass. This portion of the machine is adapted to receive and hold thearticles. to be vended; The central post 13 extends upwardlytherethrough and has its threaded upper end inserted in an opening 105formed in the centermost portion of a retaining spider ring 106. Thisretaining ring comprises an annular depending flange I 107 adapted toembrace the upper side of the cylinder 38 and is provided with an.annular in-' tegrally formed flange 108 extending inwardly therefrom soas. to overlie the upper edge of the cylindrical hopper. This portion'108 is substantially horizontal and is provided with a plurality ofradial arms 109 that extend inwardlytoward each other and have theirinnermost ends'joined. Center post 13 is bolted to this retaining ring107 by means of the-cap nut 110, a lock washer being inserted betweenthe spiderand such'nut;

The horizontal portion 108 of the retaining ring is provided with threeupstanding stops 111, 112 and 113. The stop 112 is located between thestops 111 and 113 and is of somewhat greater height than the other twostops. Each stop preferably comprises a vertical wall formed integrallywith the retaining ring and a horizontal portion 115 formed integrallywith the vertical portion and extending inwardly toward the center post.The purpose of these stops will be hereinafter described in detail.

The vertical flange 107 of the retaining ring is provided with aplurality of spaced lugs 120. The purpose of these lugs will behereinafter described.

The cap member for the commodity compartment is best shown in Figure 1and designated by numeral 121; This cap preferably comprises ahorizontal portion 122 that is equipped with an annular depending flange123 adapted to embrace the retaining ring 10'! mounted on the upper endof the hopper and tobe retained thereon by means of the cooperation ofanannular groove of the vertical portion 123. The opposing ends of eachrespective groove 125 are open. These grooves are arranged the samedistance apart from one another as the lugs 120 formed on the retainingring 106.

To mount the cap in .proper position, the grooves 125 are brought intoregistry with the lugs 1 20 and the cap is moved downwardly until suchtime as the lugs engage the annular groove 124. The cap may now beturned in either, direction to remove the lugs 120 from registry withthe vertical grooves 125. Thus, it would be impossible to lift the capfrom the hopper 38 o-wing 'to the fact the lugs 120 now engage with theannular groove 124."

In order to preclude removal of the cap, we :iavemounted a lock 130 onthe inner side of the depending'flange 123 in the position shown inFigure 1, wherein the key slot 131 for operating thebolt 132 extendsthrough to the opposing side of the flange 123 to allow operation of thebolt The lock is so located that when the bolt is withdrawn it will notcontact with either one of the stop members 111 and 113. With the cap inthe position shown in Fig'urel, wherein one side or" the lock isabutting againstthecentral stop member112, the. bolt 132 maybe extendedby means of .a key inserted in the key sloti131. .This will preventsubsequent rotation of the cap owing to the fact'that the bolt 132 willnow contact with the inturned" flange of the shorter stop member 111, or113 as the-case would be if theposition of the cap were to be reversed.i

From the foregoing description, it will be clearly understood that wehave provided a novel form of vending machine in which are embodied manyentirely new features.

One advantageous feature of this novel form of vending machine residesin the fact that a means is provided for positively ensuring thealignment of the coin slot in thevendor lever plate with any one of. thenotches 82 in the selector plate; This feature alone prevents jamming ofthe op'- erating mechanism when the lever for operating such mechanismis thrown from one end of its stroke to the other with such force as tocause subsequent disalignment of the hereinabove mentioned parts. Theprovision of such a means will also allow the vendor lever to be roughlymanipulated without any detrimental results arising from such handling.

Another advantageous feature of our invention resides in the fact thatthe cap closure and plate are sanitary and will serve to prevent dustand moisture from entering the respective compartments that they cover.Furthermore. the construction of the closure plate is such as to allowit to become filled with coins, yet since it is itself a receptacle, itmay be removed from the device without the coins falling therefrom,

Still another advantageous feature of this invention lies in theprovision of a cap for the commodity compartment that may be turned inany direction until it stops. It may then be locked in this positionwhich will preclude removal thereof. The provision of such a p meansthat it maybe unlocked, but yet cannot be'removed from the hopper untilrotated to a predetermined position.

A still further advantageous feature of this invention resides in theagitating means that is adapted to ensure a uniform feeding of thearticles to be vended to the delivery mechanism in addition to agitatingsuch articles in the hopper to preclude the adhering, arching orcompacting thereof.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is: v 1. A vendingmachine comprising a vender lever plate, a coin slot in said plate, afeeding plate having a plurality of notches therein, a detent member forcooperation with said notches, means on said vender lever for positivelydriving said detent member into any of said notches, said detent memberbeing also maintained in engagement with said notches by a resilientmeans.

2. A vending machine comprising a hopper, a feeding plate having aplurality of article receiving openings, a plurality of notches on saidfeeding plate, a rotatable vender lever plate mounted below said feedingplate, a coin slot in said vender lever plate adapted to support a coinin engagement with one of the notches in said feeding plate, and adetent member for engagement with the notches of the feeding plate toallow rotation thereof in one direction only, said detent member beingdriven into positive engagement with one of said notches by the venderlever plate.

3. A vending machine comprising a feeding plate, a vender lever plate,said vender lever plate adapted to be rotated by means of a handle, saidfeeding plate adapted to be rotated by said vender lever plate in onedirection, and means for precluding rotation of said feeding plate in anopposing direction, said means operable by said vender lever plate andby a resilient means.

4. A vending mechanism comprising a vender lever plate pivotally mountedfor rotation, a coin slot in said vender lever plate, an operatinghandle, a feeding plate rotatably mounted above said vender lever plateand adapted to be rotated thereby, a plurality ofnotches of varieddesign on said feeding plate, a, pawl member pivotally mounted to oneside of said feeding plate and adapted to have one end thereof inengagement with any one of the notches in said feeding plate, said pawlmember being maintained in engagement with said notches by a resilientmeans, a heel on said pawl adapted to be engaged by said vender leverplate when said vender lever plate has reached the limit of its rotationin one direction, the cooperation of said vender lever plate with theheel of said pawl member operating to drive the opposing end of saidpawl member into positive engagement with one of said notches in saidfeeding plate.

5. In a vending machine, a vender lever plate of annular form, a feedingplate of annular form, said vender lever plate and said feeding platebeing disposed in superimposed relation to each other, said feedingplate having a plurality of notches formed on the periphery thereof, a dtent member for precluding rotation of said feeding plate, said detentmember comprising a pawl member pivotally mounted adjacent the periphcryof said feeding plate and in substantially tangential relation thereto,said pawl member having a head thereon adapted to engage with thenotches formed on said feeding plate and having a heel formed thereon,and means on said vender lever plate adapted to contact with the heel ofsaid pawl to drive the head of said pawl into engagement with any ofsaid notches.

6. In a vending machine, a vender lever plate of annular form, a feedingplate of annular form, said vender lever plate and said feeding platebeing disposed in superimposed relation to each other, said feedingplate having a plurality of notches formed on the periphery thereof, apawl member for precluding rotation of said feeding plate, said pawlmember being pivotally mounted adjacent the periphery of said feedingplate and in substantially tangential relation thereto and being adaptedto engage with the notches formed on said feeding plate, said pawlmember being adapted to be positively engaged with said notches by saidvender lever plate.

'7. In a vendingmachine, a vender lever plate of annular form, a feedingplate of annular form, said vender lever plate and said feeding platebeing disposed in juxtaposition and said plates being rotatable relativeto each other, one of said plates having a plurality'of notches formedon theperiphery thereof, a pawl member for precluding relative rotationof said plates, said pawl member being pivotally mounted adjacent theperiphery of the plate having the notches there- 1 on and being disposedin substantially tangential relation thereto and being adapted to engagewith said notches, and means on the other of said plates adapted tocontact with said pawl member and to cause it to be positively engagedwith any of said notches.

FRANK H. VOGEL.

RALPH A. VOGEL.

